GOP Failure: Only 20% of Americans now see themselves as Republicans

I'd say 20% of those people are lying.

Sean Hannity isn't a Republican. He's a conservative.

Spoiler

That really is the new thing for Republicans. They aren't Republicans because of people like Olympia Snow in the party.

 

The irony of political parties in the United States is that they continually re-invent themselves whether they are winning or losing. The Republican Party currently is fractured and wounded because it lost focus, i.e., lost its basic values when tempted by the money and power that years of success brought.

Similarly, the Democratic Party is riding high now, but is busy attempting to abuse its power just as the Republicans did. The party fracture line is already showing as Blue Dogs grit their teeth. IMO, along with Republicans gains in 2010 will come gains in the Blue Dog ranks, moderating the Democrats' headlong rush to the left against the grain of a more moderate America.

 

That's because you have a pathological need to bring balance to the force.

Like I said last time, the only people who believed that were GOParty hacks (who have always been excellent about redirecting the discussion to inconcsequential or ludicrous things) rather than serious political or social scientists.

"Urban" was simply a Rovian codename for "blacks and liberal-black lovers" and that entire thing was merely propaganda intended to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It didn't become true becausee it was structurally deficient as it was willfully blind to many demographic and social trends (hispanic voters, the rejection of social conservatism by younger voters, etc).

Now that all the moderates of the GOP have been pushed out, we have the basest elements of the party dominating the debate and they have yet to show the ability or willingness to compromise in any sense. Until that happens it's going to be a long time in the wilderness.

 

This is pretty much how I feel right now. As a conservative, I feel like Yoda in Episode III when he said “Into exile, I must go.”

The party – and indeed, the whole movement – has deteriorated into a bunch of bored housewives posting their blind admiration for Glen Beck and Sean Hannity on their Facebook pages. The boobs on talk radio and the idiot tea partiers they have produced are running it into the ground. And as a conservative, it’s embarrassing, frankly.

I didn’t vote for Obama, but when he won, I was excited to see what might happen and open to giving him a chance. I was hoping the Republicans would quietly lick their wounds, learn from their MANY mistakes, and start preparing for 2010 and/or 2012 accordingly.

But no, that’s not what happened. They immediately went into full-on cry-baby mode instead. I mean, seriously….Obama is a communist? A socialist? A Muslim? Doesn’t have a birth certificate? Is that REALLY the best we can come up with??

So, until the Republicans (hopefully) get their act together, I will continue to be in exile...here in the Dagobah System.

 

The reason is because a lot of their core philosophies were put into practice and failed - and have failed repeatedly. The absence of government is not an idea or a viable philosophy in the end, it's a political philosophy that is akin to seinfeld - a show about nothing. Some good essays, I have posted before that allude to this theme:

http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/archives/2009/05/is_the_conserva.html

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/26/080526fa_fact_packer?printable=true

 

Have faith. But don't sit on your hands in the Dagobah System. Start actively working (volunteering) for candidates who share your views.

 

As soon as I find one, I'll let you know.

 

The Refman party ticket everyone is waiting for.

 

This must be the "cry baby" mode of which you wrote. There are candidates out there who want to change the GOP. It is your job -- your duty -- to find them .... that is, if you really are unhappy over the current state of political affairs. Apologies if this rebuke sounds too harsh, but either work for what you believe or sit back and accept what others decide for you.

 

Says the guy who thinks the nutjobs that make up the tea party "movement" are part of the solution.

"Apologies if this rebuke sounds too harsh," but your 'solutions' are at the heart of the problem ima was talking about.

 

I... you... but... partisan...

100% agreed. Awesome post.

 

I would say its fair that if you can't find a leader to express your views, perhaps you need to step up and be the leader. I wish I had the balls to run for public office.

 

Whereas there is some truth in your assertion, those leaders never emerge until they have supporters. Right now, in the GOP, new leaders have to be encouraged if there is to be a sea change in the structure. Those potential leaders only now are raising their voices, but their success still depends on those who support them.

 

Thats no moon..

And as I said before it wasn't just Rovian party hacks who believed that the Democrats were doomed but many were saying so in the mid 90's. What you are saying about the Republicans now others were saying about the Democrats then that their moderate and conservative membership had been wiped out leaving it with only a very liberal base.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that with a few exceptions single party dominance of the US political system generally isn't a good thing and is unsustainable. The party in power often overreaches and ends up pushing a disastrous ideological agenda, falls apart due to intraparty squabbling or the public becomes disgusted due to corruption with in it. There is certainly the possibility of any of those happening to the current Democractic majority.

 

My exhortation extends to all spectra of political activism and to you as well, Batman. Do you not work for your causes? Did I ask anybody to join the tea party movement? However, your assumptions regarding my tea party group makes an ass of u but not me.

 

Many were saying so in the Mid 90's, when Clinton was president, and right before Gore whooped Bush in the popular vote? Really?

Do you have any backing to this, such as studies/books etc by real social scientists not from the conservative echo-sphere? You are confusing propaganda with actual research.

Fred Barnes is a republican. Ruy Teixera is a democrat. But the kind of work each one does is completely different, and does not make your equation balance.

 

They may be doing that. It's just hard to do in our 24/7 news/blog world with the spotlight continually on.

They're in rebuilding mode. Major rebuilding mode. They might possibly challenge for the playoffs in 2012, but they're unlikely to be serious contenders any time before 2016. Obama would have to be a dismal failure to not get a second term.

And one year into an administration -- after holding office for only 8 of the previous 28 (including blowing a huge Clinton lead to GWB of all people) is a little early to be calling "dynasty."

The full cry baby mode (looney mode?) is just the crazies filling the void. Beck? Fox News? Limbough? Good blog filler but not much else. Eight years down the road, put a charismatic Republican with a traditional 'conservative' platform against a Democrat who isn't Obama, and who knows what happens.

 

I would love to hear about some of these rising stars; can you post a few names?